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So about a year ago, I posted a picture of water leaking on my passenger side floor mat. A lot of you said it was coming from the cowl area, but upon further investigation, I found where the leak was coming from.
For good measure, I tried to scrape out as much as I could, which actually most of it was not ready to come out yet. I tried to grind out as much as I could with a small grinder, and sprayed a rubberized Rustoleum spray in the cowl in hopes to stop any future leaks:
But after doing that, it still didn't fix the leak!
So after doing some water tests before the weather got too cold, I discovered where it's leaking from, right here:
So for now, i'm using a shrimp scampi container:
Does anyone know what kind of sealant I should use to seal this leak up?
Do I need to take the blower motor box out and seal it up that way?
I want to say the factory used a large piece of foam with holes in it that the heater core squished against.
I will warn you, once you start messing around that area your heater core could start leaking. Looks like you probably could use some new heater hoses anyway. If you do decide to pull the core and seal it up that way, pull the heater hose clamps carefully back after loosening them, and then cut the hoses off the heater core. Don't twist them without cutting them, it will surely cause the heater core to start leaking. Been there, done that.
I agree fully with Dave. But pulling the core isn't difficult if yours is an factory A/C unit, as it looks like it is. Pull the glove box liner and there's a cover over the heater.
I don't think I'll use foam, but The Right Stuff. It expands some and can be trimmed when dry, so will seal very well.
I agree fully with Dave. But pulling the core isn't difficult if yours is an factory A/C unit, as it looks like it is. Pull the glove box liner and there's a cover over the heater.
I don't think I'll use foam, but The Right Stuff. It expands some and can be trimmed when dry, so will seal very well.
I would not use the Right Stuff foam or any other spray foam. That stuff will suck up water and cause further problems, been there done that....
Now if you can spray it into a plastic bag as a membrane barrier then it should work.
The Right Stuff isn't a spray foam. According to Permatex, it is "The latest elastomeric rubber gasket technology is blowout resistant and outperforms pre-cut gaskets. Protects against leaks caused by vibration and thermal expansion." They recommend it for most gaskets on an engine, including water pump and thermostat gaskets, so surely can't absorb water.
I take it the Mortite ribbon caulk is like the ribbon caulk from 3M comes in white or black. Because you don't need a lot maybe try a local body shop if they have some laying around. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/3...ntent=22984750
I have not used Right Stuff but some swear by it so might give that a try.
Now not knowing the truck & box setup does that "plug" go into the box or thru a lip/panel on the box into the cabin of the truck?
I ask because if it goes into the box and is leaking out of the box then I am thinking the box drain is plugged and not letting water drain out.
If you run the A/C do you see a puddle on the ground in that area? If not then the drain could be plugged and that water could also be coming inside the truck.
I have not used Right Stuff but some swear by it so might give that a try.
Now not knowing the truck & box setup does that "plug" go into the box or thru a lip/panel on the box into the cabin of the truck?
I ask because if it goes into the box and is leaking out of the box then I am thinking the box drain is plugged and not letting water drain out.
If you run the A/C do you see a puddle on the ground in that area? If not then the drain could be plugged and that water could also be coming inside the truck.
The truck is a factory AC 1986 (that still works BTW, all it needed was a recharge).
The "plug" goes into the box, but after what we see on top, I don't know. The water is draining into the cab via the heater hose caulk that has rotted away. There's a gap between the hood and the cowl that is letting water in, and the cowl-to-hood seal was just replaced, unfortunately, it doesn't stretch all the way over to the side of each fender, so because of the gap, that has let water take its toll on the caulk that's surrounding the heater core pipes.
Eventually the truck will be getting fully restored, as for right now it just needs to work for me until I can get a beater, and then take it out of service and give it the full restoration treatment it deserves.
I want to make sure I use the proper sealant that not only looks like factory, but also does a great job. It would have to be a black sealant so that it matches the black paint that will eventually be on it, and also the black heater box. I'm not sure if that 3M sealant is black or white? I'm sure it can be painted over without a problem, I just don't want this to happen again, because if I didn't have the Husky Liners floor mats down, i'd have a completely soaked carpet right now!
After looking it over & rereading it there could have been close cell foam between core & firewall. The white stuff around the core / hoses was most likely the 3M caulk I posted of. It was used a lot back then to seal and fill in gaps before or after painting. Over time it dries out & srinks sometimes even falls off.
It looks like yours dried out and is no longer sealing like it was.
Dave ----
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